Shoe Retention System

ABSTRACT

A shoe retention system for converting a flip flop into a sandal includes a flip flop that may be worn on a foot of a user. A retainer is removably attached to the flip flop. The retainer engages an ankle of the user such that the sole portion is prevented from dropping away from the user&#39;s foot while the user walks.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to retention devices and more particularlypertains to a new retention device for converting a flip flop into asandal.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above bygenerally comprising a flip flop that may be worn on a foot of a user. Aretainer is removably attached to the flip flop. The retainer engages anankle of the user such that the sole portion is prevented from droppingaway from the user's foot while the user walks.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the disclosure in order that the detailed descriptionthereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that thepresent contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There areadditional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features ofnovelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than thoseset forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe retention system according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a left side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through5 thereof, a new retention device embodying the principles and conceptsof an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by thereference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the shoe retention system 10generally comprises a flip flop 12 that has a sole portion 14 and astrap portion 16. The flip flop 12 may be worn on a foot 18 of a user 20and the sole portion 14 has a rear end 22. The flip flop 12 may be aflip flop sandal of any conventional design.

A retainer 24 is removably attached to the flip flop 12 and the retainer24 is positioned on the sole portion 14. The retainer 24 engages anankle 26 of the user 20 such that the sole portion 14 is prevented fromdropping away from the user's foot 18 while the user 20 walks. Theretainer 24 comprises a first strap 30 that is continuous such that thefirst strap 30 forms a closed loop. The first strap 30 has the rear end22 being directed therethrough such the first strap 30 extends aroundthe sole portion 14. The first strap 30 is comprised of a resilientlystretchable material such that the first strap 30 frictionally engagesthe sole portion.

A pair of second straps 32 is provided and each of the second straps 32is attached to the first strap 30. Each of the second straps 32 isspaced apart from each other such that each of the second straps 32extends upwardly from the sole portion 14 when the first strap 30 ispositioned around the sole portion 14. Each of the second straps 32 hasa distal end 34 with respect to the first strap 30.

A third strap 36 is coupled between the distal end 34 of each of thesecond straps 32. The third strap 36 is split to define a pair of freeends 38 of the third strap 36. The third strap 36 has a first surface 40and a second surface 42. A first coupler 44 is attached to the firstsurface 40 and the first coupler 44 is positioned adjacent to one of thefree ends 38. A second coupler 46 is attached to the second surface 42and the second coupler 46 is positioned adjacent to one of the free ends38. The first 44 and second 46 couplers are complementary with eachother. Thus, each of the free ends 38 is matable to each other. Thethird strap 36 is wrapped around the user's ankle 26 when the user 20wears the flip flop 12 wherein the third strap 36 prevents the rear end22 of the sole portion 14 from dropping away from the user's foot 18when the user 20 walks.

In use, the first strap 30 is positioned around the sole portion 14 ofthe flip flop 12. The flip flop 12 is worn and the third strap 36 iswrapped around the user's ankle 26. The user 20 walks while wearing theflip flop 12.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodimentenabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials,shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, aredeemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and allequivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the specification are intended to be encompassed by anembodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of thedisclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used inits non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word areincluded, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. Areference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not excludethe possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless thecontext clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

I claim:
 1. A shoe retention system configured to convert a flip flopshoe into a sandal, said system comprising: a flip flop configured to beworn on a foot of a user; and a retainer being removably attached tosaid flip flop, said retainer being configured to engage an ankle of theuser such that said sole portion is prevented from dropping away fromthe user's foot while the user walks.
 2. The assembly according to claim1, wherein said flip flop has a sole portion and a strap portion, saidsole portion having a rear end.
 3. The assembly according to claim 1,wherein: said flip flop has a sole portion, said sole portion having arear end; and said retainer comprising a first strap being continuoussuch that said first strap forms a closed loop, said first strap havingsaid rear end being directed therethrough such said first strap extendsaround said sole portion, said first strap being comprised of aresiliently stretchable material such that said first strap frictionallyengages said sole portion.
 4. The assembly according to claim 3, furthercomprising a pair of second straps, each of said second straps beingattached to said first strap, each of said second straps being spacedapart from each other such that each of said second straps extendsupwardly from said sole portion when said first strap is positionedaround said sole portion, each of said second straps having a distal endwith respect to said first strap.
 5. The assembly according to claim 4,further comprising a third strap being coupled between said distal endof each of said second straps such that said third strap is configuredto be wrapped around the user's ankle when the user wears said flipflop.
 6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein said third strap issplit to define a pair of free ends of said third strap, each of saidfree ends being matable to each other wherein said third strap isconfigured to prevent said rear end of said sole portion from droppingaway from the user's foot when the user walks.
 7. A shoe retentionsystem configured to convert a flip flop shoe into a sandal, said systemcomprising: a flip flop having a sole portion and a strap portionwherein said flip flop is configured to be worn on a foot of a user,said sole portion having a rear end; and a retainer being removablyattached to said flip flop, said retainer being positioned on said soleportion, said retainer being configured to engage an ankle of the usersuch that said sole portion is prevented from dropping away from theuser's foot while the user walks, said retainer comprising: a firststrap being continuous such that said first strap forms a closed loop,said first strap having said rear end being directed therethrough suchsaid first strap extends around said sole portion, said first strapbeing comprised of a resiliently stretchable material such that saidfirst strap frictionally engages said sole portion, a pair of secondstraps, each of said second straps being attached to said first strap,each of said second straps being spaced apart from each other such thateach of said second straps extends upwardly from said sole portion whensaid first strap is positioned around said sole portion, each of saidsecond straps having a distal end with respect to said first strap, anda third strap being coupled between said distal end of each of saidsecond straps such that said third strap is configured to be wrappedaround the user's ankle when the user wears said flip flop, said thirdstrap being split to define a pair of free ends of said third strap,each of said free ends being matable to each other wherein said thirdstrap is configured to prevent said rear end of said sole portion fromdropping away from the user's foot when the user walks.